Most notable among the decisions this week, the CoA supports small residential units outside of the Downtown Core, citing the needs for more rental housing to address affordability, says no to a secondary unit in Westdale because it will be rented to students, and a quirk of the building code prevents common sense.

Committee of Adjustment Holds First Video Conference Meeting
, Editor |
Meeting runs smoothly as CoA approves all but one application.
It's Above Board: Ward 10 Councillor Maria Pearson Assisting as Agent on Minor Variance Application
, Editor |
I looked into the matter of Ward 10 City Councillor Maria Pearson serving as an Agent on a minor variance application in her ward. The variance will be heard on October 19.
I reviewed the application file, and spoke with multiple members of staff.

Journalistic Word Choice, Committee of Adjustment, and Tall Buildings as Minor Variances
, Editor |
Developers and big corporate landlords in Ward 2 are increasingly using “minor variances” to bypass Planning Committee – challenging the concept of what is minor in planning.

Greenwin Takes Fight to Convert Family Units to Singles to the OMB
, Editor |
The Committee of Adjustment voted to not approve the conversions, citing that the Committee does not have the power to amended site specific zoning amendments.
Hamilton Committee of Adjustment for March 9, 2017
, Editor |
Hamilton’s Committee of Adjustment will conduct 23 hearings, here are the hearings that caught my attention.
Hamilton Committee of Adjustment for November 17, 2016
, Editor |
Hamilton’s Committee of Adjustment will consider 23 applications during their November 17, 2016 hearings. Here are some of the applications that drew the attention of The Public Record’s Joey Coleman.

Hamilton City Hall Election Compliance Audit Committee for September 6, 2016
, Editor |
Hamilton’s City Council appointed Election Compliance Audit Committee will consider two applications for compliance audit regarding Ward 7 By-Election candidates.
The complaints, filed by two citizens, are related to campaign in-kind contributing and campaigning expenses for Howard Rabb and the failure to retain an independent auditor by Uzma Qureshi.
Live video starts at 7:00pm, the meeting begins at 7:30pm
Hamilton Committee of Adjustment for August 4, 2016
, Editor |
Hamilton’s Committee of Adjustment will hear 23 variance applications during its first meeting of August. Here are some of the applications that drew the attention of The Public Record’s Joey Coleman.
Hamilton Committee of Adjustment for June 23, 2016
, Editor |
Committee of Adjustment will hear 24 applications during their June 23 meeting. Here are a couple which drew the attention of The Public Record. Full Agenda on the City website. 100 Wilson Street, Hamilton
The City of Hamilton, acting as the developer of the proposed Police Investigative Services Building, is hoping to use the Committee of Adjustment to gain approval of large setbacks for the proposed buildings parking and secure storage areas. The building has been panned by members of the City’s Design Review Panel.

Conversion of Storefront (Restaurant) to Housing at 652 King Street East
, Editor |
UPDATE: The Committee of Adjustment approved the application during their March 24, 2016 meeting
King Street between Victoria and Wentworth is expected to become a stronger commercial district in the coming years as residential intensification takes hold along the LRT corridor. However, in the meanwhile, there is a challenge wi
th storefront vacancies. The owner is 652 King Street East, on the south side just west of Wentworth, is asking for a minor variance to convert the existing storefront restaurant into two storefront apartments with the bedrooms and bathrooms in the basement, and kitchen/living room on the main level. The hearing will be held Thursday (March 24, 2016) at 2:10 p.m. (Page 69 of 132 in agenda)
On Barton Street, one of the challenges facing commercial revival is the lack of available storefronts due to conversions to residential storefront apartments. During the previous term (2010-2014) of the Committee of Adjustment, the CoA denied numerous storefront conversions.